Box framing machine



" BOX FRAMING momma Filed Nov. 15; 1933 I 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1935. H. E. TWOMLEY BOX FRAMING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1935 H. E. TWOMLEY BOX FRAMING MACHINE Jung 11, 1935.

12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1933 June 11, 1935 H. E. TWOMLEY 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 11, 1935. H. E'. TWOMLEY 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 11, 1935. v E, Two E 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1953 12 sheets-sheet 6 19 9 93 94 137' i :l: gum 11 11 .1. i .1111: 1 11: 475;;

June 11, 1935. H, TWQMLEY Q 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15; 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 11, 1935. H, E. TWOMLEY 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 June 11, 1935. H, E, TWOMLEY 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet l1 I June 11, 1935. E, TWQMLEY 2,004,355

BOX FRAMING MACHINE Filed Nov. l5, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 than. thedepth.

ally) with the ends;

Patented June 11 1935 Herbert Twomley, RiversidaCalif j assignor to "f 1 Donald Parker and-Citizens National Trust and Savings Bank of Riverside; administrators of.-'

V GeorgeD. Parker,deceased p v r V Application November- 15,'1933,Serial;No.698;101 ;;R

This in vention relates broadly to box nailing machines and more particularly to semi-autos matic machines for nailing the :side. and bottom boardsonto theend boards of boxes ofthe general dimensions employed for packing apples and pears, in which boxes the width is greater. A broad objectlof the invention is to provide a semi-automatic machine in which the box parts 1 are placed in and the completed box removed from the machine manually but in which theremain ing operations areperformed automatically under r the control ofthe operator while the operator is reaching for and bringing box parts to-the mah reby the Operators time is used tgfull advantage. v g 1 Various; more specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from' the detailed description which follows;

Briefly, the invention consists of a machine having the following elements: I

(l) A form includingclamps for holding box ends in juxtaposed spaced apart positions while the side and bottom boards are attached thereto;

boards (which are placed in the machine manu- (3) Guides iorspacing. the bottom boards from the sides of the box and from each other, the

bottom comprising two or more boards (4) A nailing mechanism reciprocable up and side and bottom boards to the ends;

(5) Anvils for resisting the thrust onthe end boards imparted by the nailing mechanismf down above the box holdingform fornailing the a (6). A mechanism for rotating the form after each nailingvoperation to present the next face of the box to thenailing mechanism and to restore the form to starting position after the last sideis nailed. Thus in starting position the form is positioned to receive box ends and shook for first side, which is nailed onto the ends; then the form is rotated 90 degrees and the bottom boards placed and nailed onto the ends; then the formisagain rotated 90 degrees and the other side shook placed Numerous auxiliaryelements are necessary for r the parts inlowes t position at the time the nail (2) Guides. for aligning the side and. bottom f ing form and the; left hand; shook {stop to clear -the revolving form; 1'

positiori they occupy at the completion of the first (o1. i -10 V,

the'successful operation of the-machine but these elementsrand .theiii functions'will appearin th detailed description'which follows. i H l Inthedrawings: a

Fig. 1 is a'frontelevationi ofthe machine with 5 some partsbrokeniaway to better show the con struction and somede'tails eliminated;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of" the machine;

.-Fig. 3 is a detail isection taken in theplane V III III in Fig; 21; showing the pinion and sector. 10 mechanism for. turning thei'box form; in the position they occupy when theidriver'head and chucks are'idown; j

Fig.4 is a View similar to that of Fig. 3 ShOW-e. ing the posit'ions of the elements afterf the driver head and chucks havekreturned to their elevated.

positions a-nd-theratchethas turned the box; 7

Fig. 5 is a .detail elevation View in 'theplane.

Of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism for. liiting the-revolving box rform to permit lateral movement- 0f the nailing anils, withthe partsin elevated position;

Fig. Siis a view similar to that of Fig 5 showing chucksare restingon a boxy I c Fig. fl is a detail horizontal section taken in the plane vir vrrbr Fig. 1; showing, ba beads or ends in the clampingmechanism; Fig.JBiSfa'detail plan View of a portionof one of the clamping elements shown in Fig. with the boxlend clamping members in open position:

I Fig. 9 is a detail planview of, the central porltionof thelanvil table of the machine showing 1 the mechanism for actuatingthe clamping mechanism illustrated in Figs? and 8; I

Fig. 10*isa front elevation of the anviltable and box form with twoboxl'heads and the first side -witl1 the boxform turning. intothe next position andthe anvils swung outwardto clearthe revolvelevated 50 r Fig. 513 is a plan view of the anvil table similar to Figzi 'll but with the parts positioned to coordinate with Fig. 12;. p

Fig.1l4 is similar to Fig. 12 with theparts in;

ranges;

operation, in position for nailing on the bottom shook;

Fig. is similar to Figs. 11 and 13, with parts positioned to coordinate with Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is similar to Figs. 10, 12 and 14 except that the parts are shown in the position they occupy after the bottom has been nailed on and the form rotated 90 degrees into the position for nailing on the last side;

Fig. 17 is similar to Figs. 11, 13 and 15, with the parts positioned to coordinate with Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a front detail elevation of the form counterweight and shook stops and guides for supporting and aligning the bottom shook, the form being in position for nailing on the bottom shook;

Fig. 19 is a section in the plane XIX-XIX of Fig. 18, showing the construction of the shook stops;

Fig. 20 is a detail elevational view of the revolv ing form index head and cooperating apparatus for decelerating and stopping the form after each movement;

Fig. 21 is similar to Fig. 20 showing the form while in transit into the position shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a detail side elevation of the left nailing anvil and supporting structure, the supporting frame being shown in section;

Fig. 23 is" a detail plan View showing the left shook stop, a portion of the frame member of p the machine being shown in section;

Fig. 24 is a. detail front elevation showing the 'cleat holding mechanism on the nailing chuck in closed position;

' Fig. 25 is a similar view showing the cleat holding mechanism in open position;

Fig. 2G is a detail side elevation corresponding to the front elevation of Fig. 24;

i Fig. 27 is an end elevation detail view showing a portion of the clamp actuating mechanism;

Fig. 27a is a detail end view of the cam and roller shown in Fig. 27; Fig. 28 is a detail end view of the latch and release mechanism for'clamping and releasing box ends in the revolving form, showing the latch inreleased position;

Fig. 29 is similarto Fig. 28, showing the latch in clamped position;

Fig. 30 is similar to Figs. 28 and29, showing the latch trigger being acted upon by the release finger to'release the box head clamps;

Figs. 31 and 32 are detail views of the box head clamping mechanism showing the use of filler blocks for adapting the mechanism for'different sized heads; and

Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a completed box of the type the machineis adapted to assemble.

Nailing mechanism Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism of the machine is sup-ported on a frame comprising a base i aleft side frame 2, a right side frame 3, a front top frame tie 4, a rear top frame tie 5, a. front table frame tie 6, and a rear table frame tie, Ga.

A nailing mechanism is supported from the frame at the upper end thereof and comprises a nail pan 8, andstrippers 9 which are of standard construction and need not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that in operation thenail pan 8 is oscillated up and down by links 48 which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends to the outer ends of levers keyed at their other ends to a supporting shaft 45a. The levers 45 are in turn oscillaf-"d by a connecting rod 44 which extends downward to the driving mechanism, which will be described later.

Nails are positioned preparatory to driving by means of nail chucks it carried on a chuck frame It and the nails are distributed to the nail chucks from the nail feed mechanism through nail fun nels H and nail tubes 62. Nail punches i4 secured toa driver frame are provided to force the nails out of the nail chucks l3 into the box shock. The chuck frame i6 is mounted for vertical reciprocable movement in guides in the side frame members 2 and 3 and is reciprocated from the driving mechanism to be described later through connecting rods 2!. The driver frame [5 is likewise independently reciprocable up and down and is reciprocated from the driving mech anism through connecting rods ll. Driving mechanisms of the general type described are old and well known and their specific construction does not constitute a part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that when the chucks are lowered into engagement with box parts by the connecting rods 2! and the punch frame [5 thereafter lowered by the connecting rods ll, nails in the chucks are driven into the box parts by the punches l4. Thereafter upward movement of the connecting rods 2i and ll carries the nail driving mechanism upward clear of the box parts.

The power drive The machine is driven by an electric motor 3? (Figs. 1 and 2) to the shaft of Which is keyed a sprocket 36 which drives a clutch sprocket 34 through a sprocket chain 35. The clutch sprocket 34 is free to turn on a clutch shaft 32 and has mounted on one side thereof a clutch drum 34a adapted to receive the expanding member of a friction clutch which is keyed to the shaft 32. When this clutch is engaged the sprocket 34 is in driving engagement with'the shaft The clutch member keyed to shaft is expanded or contracted by longitudinally shifting a clutch collar Ala. mounted in concentric relation about the clutch shaft 32 and adapted to be engaged by a yoke 41, which is keyed to a rocker shaft 48, to s the opposite endof which shaft (shaft as) there is keyed a bell crank 49a. A foot pedal 48 is rotatably mounted on a pin 53 secured to the frame of the machine and the rear end @90 of the pedal fits loosely within a hole provided therefor in the horizontal arm of the bell crank 45a so that a downward pressure on the pedal 43 rotates the rocker shaft 48 in a clockwise direction to engage the clutch. The upper end of the vertical arm of the bell crank 4S0. is pivotally secured by pin 49d to one end of a horizontal rod 530, the opposite end of which rod is positioned to contact a cam 20a mounted on the inner face of a crank gear 2ft so that as the gear 2% rotates the cam 20a periodically forces the horizontal shaft or rod 490 to the left, thereby rotating the rocker shaft 48 in a counterclockwise direction and releasing the clutch. It will be observed that the foregoing mechanism permits manual engagement of the clutch and automatic disengagement thereof after a predetermined movement of the gear 2%? dependant upon the shape of the cam 28a.

To positively stop the mechanism driven by the motor 37 through the clutch, a brake is provided. This brake comprises a drum 5i keyed to the clutch shaft 32 and an external contracting brake band 52, constituted by two halves hinged together by the pin 52a. The two halves of the brake band 52 are normally urged into contact with the drum 5| by a compression spring (not shown) To release the" brake the lower ends of the two. halves of the. brake band are separated against the force. of the compressing: spring and for this purpose thel'ower'ends of the two halves of the brake band are extended downwardly and provided with rollers52c, oneroller beingmounted on each brake loandi-extension. y 'lhe rollers 520 are adapted to be engaged by a'wedge-shaped pin Mb secured ina projecting boss on the clutch yoke t! so that, asthe yoke t! rotates-indock wise direction to engage the clutch, thewe'dge-' shaped pin ll'b movesbetween the rollers 52c and separates them,- thereby releasing the two halves of the brake band 52 from thedrum 5i: twill t be observed," therefore, that'the brake' is automatically released simultaneously with engagemerit of the 1 clutch and automatically applied upon disengagement of the clutch to immediately y A pinion 3! (Fig. 2) is keyed to the clutch shaft 32and drives the crank gear at, which is keyed to the 'right end of a crank shaft 25. A crank I9 is keyed to the left end of the crank shaftyiifi and a crank provided on the -crank wheel Zdgto stop the mechanism following release f'iof the which the lower ends ofrthe connecting rods ll for reciprocating the nail" punch frame B5, are

pivotally attached Compression springs 88 are inserted in the connecting reds H to providev a certain amount of yield in thec onnecting rods to compensate for variations in the dimensionsof box parts. i l

' Crank shaft. 25 also has keyed' thereto chuck frame lift earns 24 which engage witl ijca m rollers 23 attached by means of pins 23a to the ends 1 of radiusarins 22 (Fig. 2) which arefree to turn on a shaft33 extended between the side frames The lower ends of the connecting rods 2 and 3. r 2! the upper end of which arejsecured to the nail chuck frame it, arealsopivotallysecured to the pins 23a so that as the rollers 23 are raised or lowered by the earns 2 the chuck frame I6 is raised and lowered in timed relation to the up and down movement of the driver frame it. i

in greater detail later inco-nnection with the an:

vils of the machine, a vertical shaft Si! is provided having a disc is keyed to the lower end thereof which is in driving engagement through a'she'ar' pin28 with a beveled gear 2?, which is driven by a beveled pinion 26keyed to the shaft 25 Boa" form and operating "mechanism therefor Referring now to Fig. 7, which is a plan view of the revolving box form or elarnpine jig; it will be'observed that the box-supporting ele--' ments :are rotatably supported byan'akleshaft which is divided into three sectionsiie -iiil and d, respectively, reading from the lento right The left section 55 of the axle is journalled to turn in a hearing 51? in the end of a radius arm 6! (shown to better advantageinthe end ele vational'views of Figsp5 andfi); which is' free to turn on a shaft 62. Likewise, the rightend sec tion 55a of the axle journalledto turn in a bearing tile in the end of a radius arm which is rotatably mounted ona shaft 52a; The left axle section 55 is rigidly secured to a clamping head 5%. The right axle section; 55% 15- rigidly 1 secured to an arm attachedto the clamping head right end of the center axle section 6t is rigidly secured to the clamping head 53 and the left end of section 85 is rigidly secured toan armtta attached to the clainping head 53s. A

counter weight i6? is rigidly secured to the center "when placed therein hy hand;

that'a slight rotati wise directioniwith reference to Fig. 27)* will open the box end clanips To drive a mechanism whieh will be described l The clamping niec'hanis in' for clamping the box ends andfor releasing them will be explained withureferenceto Figs. l'andfl; in bothof which the boxi'endzclarlips fie'and 590: are shownin open orretractedpesition: ready to receiveor release the box ends; Each clamping head 53 andtea isprovided witha fiatsurface X and Y, respectively which constitutes the stationary aligning element of eachl clamping head; the surface X cohtactingthe outsideandthe surface Y contacting the-inside of the respective box ends to facil itate the removal of a finished boxy The-head clamps i are rotatably mounted on pins I68 (Fig; 8) secured'to the ends of head clamp-levers i553, which levers are'fulcrumed by pins 859 to the arms and 63a, respectivelm'ot the clamping heads 53 and 5%. Torque springs ltl serve to yieldingiy hold theclamps 59 and iifia in angled relation to the surfaces X ma to present open mouths for quickly and easily receiving boxends Holes are provided in the ends of the-levers :158 which loosely receive threadedconnec'ting rods 56, each of which is provided with an as; justing nut 550; on one end and an eyem; the

other end for receiving a pin it? (Figflfll-iri" the end of a crank i3ii'keyedwtoa rocker shaftf 131i The rocker shaftiiil is rotata blyniounted inbear- I ings in attached tofthe' c amping heads." Around the connecting rods itii there are positionedcom pressing springs ifitfiwhich are compressed be} tweenthe'ends of the-levers'ifiil andadjusting nuts 555a (Fig. fi);therebyprovidingtelescoping universal jointconnectors between the levers as shown in Fig. 8, and that a slight opposite direction willf close the *clarnpstfifig as shown inFig. '7.

f Considering "further the supporting and rotating structure with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the radius arins ti and' filaithe arrn 61 being rotation of theshaft l3l in the y at the opposite endofthe Iformand' notshown,

andfthe chuck framers lowered position, the radius armstl nevertouch thebrackets 64 andfthe box and clamping heads are supported on anvilstt and 56d, as shownin Fig; 10, When the chuck franiefit andeonneetingrods Z'Iare i i in elevated position, as shown Fig.5,the projections 65' on thec0nnecting r ods 2l lift the radius arms 6 l i and; ii i a andthef clamping 1 heads with the box'endsoff 'the-anvils' 56st) thatthe anvils 58 have clearance-to move horizontally under the box ends prior to nailing and horizontally out from under the box ends olear of the form to permit rotation of the latter into a new positionl l f flfhe box form is rotated to successively present different faces of the bokto the nailing Inecha nism and-torestore the forth tofitsstarting pose CPI tion .following the nailing of the last side by the following mechanism: U

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, a tension spring 12 having a plug in each end is provided with screw eyes attached to the respective plugs which are secured by pins 13 and II to the driver frame l and to the end ofan arm Ill, respectively. Arm, H1 is rigidly keyed to a rotatable shaft 62, to which there is keyed a sector gear 69. The sector gear 69 meshes with a sector pinion'fifi which is rotatably mounted on the axle shaft 55. There is secured to the sector pinion 65 a radius arm 55a on which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 68a a ratchet pawl 68. The ratchet pawl 68 is in driving engagement with a three-tooth ratchet 61 which is keyed to the axle shaft 55. A projection 15 on the arm is adapted tocontact with the frame 2 and act as a stop to limit the rotation of the sector gear 69 in response to upward movement of the spring 12. Inside of the spring 12 is a rod 16 which acts as a, stop to limit the contraction of the spring 12.

The teeth in the three-tooth ratchet 61 are not spaced equally but instead are spaced 90 degrees, 90 degrees and 180 degrees apart, respectively. When the driver frame I5 moves to its lowest position (at the completionof a nail driving operation) spring 12 contracts until the plugs which are screwed into its ends contact with the rod 16, thereby forcing the arms 10 downward and revolving the sector gear 69 clockwise (with reference to Fig. 3) which in turn revolves the pinion sector 56 counterclockwise, which in turn revolves the pinion sector 66 and the arms 66a and the ratchet pawl 68, counterclockwise. The pawl 68 thereby engages one of the three ratchet teeth and as the driver frame subsequently moves upward, the spring 12 is stretched or extended, thereby exerting the upward pull on the arms 70 and a torque on the shaft 55 tending to turn the latter in a clockwise direction but the shaft 55 is restrained from turning by a roller '14 (Figs. 10 and 20) lying in one of three slots 16, Him or 16b in the clamping head 53a until the driver frame and the chuck frame l5 nearly reach the tops of their strokes, at which time the roller M is automatically withdrawn from the slot in the clamping head 53a, as shown in Fig. 12, (the mechanism for actuating the roller 14 will be described later), thereby releasing the box form which is then rotated by the spring 12 in a clockwisedirection with reference to. Fig. 3 or in a counterclockwise direction with reference to Figs. and 21, as shown by the arrows in those figures. The rotation of the box form by the power of the spring 12 continues until the roller '14 (Figs. 20 and 21) drops intothe next slot in the clamping head 53a. It will be observed that the slots 18 and 16a are spaced apart 90 degrees, slots 16a and 1819 are spaced apart'90 degrees, and slots 16b and 16 are spaced apart 180 degrees, corresponding to the spacing of the three teeth of the ratchet 61 previously referred to (Figs. 3 and 4). The slot 16 determines the initial position of the box form in which the box ends are inserted and the first side nailed on, as shown in Fig. 10, the slot 150, determines the position of the box form for nailing the bottom, as shown in Figs. 12 and 14, and the slot 161) determines the position of the box form for nailing the last side, as shown in Fig. 16. Following the nailing of the last side, the box being then completed, the form must be revolved 180 degrees in order to permit removal of the box from the form and the insertion of the parts for assembling the next box. This last movement brings 'thefirst slot 16 again into registration with the roller l4 and the form is positioned as shown in Fig. 10.

The reason for revolving the box form by the spring 12 is that the main driving mechanism of the machine comes to rest when the driver frame l5 and the nail chuck frame I6 reach the top of their strokes, as shown in Fig. l. The box cannot revolve until the nail chucks have been elevated sufficiently above the box to clear the corners of the latter as it turns. Therefore, it is necessary to store up energy in the spring 12 to do the work of turning the box form after the main driving mechanism of the machine has come to rest.

To avoid shock and to facilitate the entry of the rollers 14 into the slots 16, 16a and 151), a decelerating mechanism for the form is provided and will now be described with reference to Figs. 16, 17, 20 and 21. Referring to Figs. 29 and 21, the clamping head 53a is provided on its periphery with three cams 11, Ha and 11b spaced apart 90 degrees, 90 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively, corresponding to the angular spacing of the three teeth on ratchet 6! and to the three slots 35, 16a and 15b. Positioned adjacent the cams ll, 17a and llb is a cam roller 18 rotatably mounted on a pin 13a in the end of the upper arm 19 of a lever 84. Lever 84 is pivotally mounted on a pin 80a secured to the bracket 80 which in turn is secured to the front table tie and the rear table tie 6a on the frame of the machine. Lever 84 is also provided with a side arm 8 l to the end of which is attached by a pin Bla one end of an extension spring 82, the other end of which spring is secured by a pin 83 to the rear table tie 611. Spring 82 functions to hold the cam roller 18 against the cams 11, Ha and Tlb. 'A bracket SE! is rigidly secured to the front table tie 5 and pivotally supports at its lower end by means of a pin 89 an air compression cylinder 88. Cylinder 83 contains a piston 81 mounted on a piston rod 85, the outer end of which is pivotally mounted 'by pin 85 to the lower end of the lever 84. An adjustable relief cock 9| is provided on the cylinder 83 which controls the escape of air from the cylinder.

Fig. 21 shows the box form being revolved from its previous position of rest into the position shown in Fig. 20, at which time the cam l'la is approaching the cam roller 18 and the slot 16a is approaching the position in-which it will receive the roller 14. As the cam Ila contacts and shifts the roller 18, the piston 81 is actuated by the lever 84 to compress the air in the cylinder 88 and, since the air compressed in the cylinder 88 can only escape slowly therefrom through the cock 9|, considerable resistance is offered to the movement of the rotating form, thereby slowing it down as the slot 16a approaches the roller 14 so that the roller 14 has ample time to enter the slot and stop the form. Oviously the same decelerating effect will be produced upon the box form as it approaches each of the other two positions of rest in which the roller 14 engages with the slots 16b and 16, respectively.

Anvil actuating and form indexing mechanism Thus far, mechanism has been described for receiving a pair of box ends and supporting them in position to receive one side board, rotating the ends to 90 degrees in a position to receive the bottom shook, rotating the box ends into position to receive the other side shook, and thereafter rotating the box ends into the original position for an r by pin-I23 and secured a the other end a the side the removal of-the completed box aii'd'ihsert'iori of I ends and one sidejof the nextbox. In each po-' sition the nailing mechanism is automatically? actuated and thereafterthebox form automatical ly turned intothehext position in response to depression o-fthe foot pedal by the operator.

To support the box ends during the nailing-operation and prevent ithethrust imparted by the nailing mech nism'from beingtransmitted to the axleshafts E. "and anvils 5t and 56a" (Fig. .are provi dcdrwhich contact directly with the lower edges of the jbox ends whileth side boards are being nailed and with thecIamping heads while. the bottom is being nailed. I I

Because of the fact that it is necessary to maintainthe upper or nailing surface of the box parts atthe'same elevation in all three positions of the I form Whereasthe vertical dimensions of the box are different .in the three different positions of orientation, the anvils must. be differently ad- J'usted as to height in the three positions. 'Furthermore, the anvils must be shifted outof the way during rotation of the box to clear the corners thereof. 'It" is also necessary to provide a. mechanismfor actuating the rollers 14 which stops or indexes the rotating form in each position of rest. These various mechanismsare closely related and will be, described together.

.Referringto Fig: l, the vertical shaft 30 is :re'volved, as previously stated, by the beveled gears .25 and 21. The ratio of the gears ZIi and 21 is three to one so that for each revolution of the H crank shaft the vertical shafttli revolves oneing slidably supported as described from the third of a revolution. The upper end of shaft is supported by a bearing 30a. attached to the table tie sand 6a. and there is keyed to. the shaft 30 just above the bearing 30a, a disc I I0 having the shape of an equi-lateral triangle (Fig. 11) ,-in

' each corner of which are secured avertical'pin on which rollers IIIa, IlIb and II Ic are rotatably mounted. There is also keyed to the shaft. 30 just above the disc H0 a'cam disc I09 having two cylindrical surfaces I096 and I09b ,'respe'c-T tively, of different radiibut both concentric with respect to shaft 30. I

For supporting the! anvils there are secured to the frontztable tie 6 two bearing brackets NH and. I cm (Fig. 10) and tolthe rear table tie 6a I there are secured two similar bearing brackets also numbered IOI and I01 a." Extending through and beyond thebearing brackets l0lu,iis a shaft Iced which is rigidly secured by set screws100b spectively, are oscillatably mounted. Slidably supported on shoulders of the four brackets MI and I010: are two rectangular sliding' bars Island I01a, respectively. To these two sliding bars there arewelded two cross members Itlb and I010 (Fig. ll), the two slidingbars and cross members constituting a rectangular integral frame which is free to oscillate from left to right and rightto left. the whole structure betable tie bars ii and Eaj Aprojection. I08..is.

I welded to the centralpart of the cross member IIBIbwhich is adapted to contact with the surfaces' itlea and I002) of the carnl09,fthe latter acting as a stop for positioning the frame l01 in two different positions; the frame I01 is at all times urged to the right by an extension spring I22 secured atone endto the crossmember l0 1c frame 3 by screw I24. I

' There is also welded to the lower face of the cross member I01b a block I08a which 'ispositioned to intercept the three rollers I I la, 1 I I6 and II Ic as the tria'ngular plate I I0. on whichthey I are supported, rotates incaclookwise direction (with reference to Fig. 11). .When one 'of the three rollers I I la, I I lb and I He strikes the block I080; the whole frame I01 is moved tot-he left, againstilthe tension of spring I22, until the'roller slips off: the .blocki Wild, at which timethe ex tensionSpringIZZpulls the frame .I01 to the rightuntil the projection I08 strikesone of the I surfaces'ofthecam109.?

To prevent shock resulting from rapid m.ove-. ment ofc'the-frame. I81 as the projection I08 encounters .thezcarn E09, anxlair cylinder I20is provided, :the cylinder being attached to. the side frame 3 by a pin'IZI'. "It-piston II9 withinthecylinder I20 is attached bya piston rod I I 8 tothe cross member-I010; the endof the piston rod be. .II6 on the ing pivotally secured to a projection crossme'mber I01c by a pin I I1.

"The frame ,I 01. may be .adjustably decelerate d in its movement to the right by adjustinga release. I cock. I20a whichcontrols the release ofaircome I pressed'in the cylinder I20by the piston] l9.. 1

Asshownin Fig. 11, the roller I No has cleared the block I08aand the frame I01 has beenmoved to itsextremeright positionby spring I22, bring-, I

ingthe projection.I08against the surface I091) of short radius on the disc I09. (In Fig; l3the shaft30, c m I09 and disc I to have rotated a little less than. 120 degrees so (that the roller I I In. is

contacting the block I080. and has movedthe frame. I01 into extreme left position. -In'FIig. 15 the shaft 30 hasrotated' slightly farther so. that theroller I I Ia .hasreleased the blockI08agand theprojectionl08 has stopped against the-cam surface I09d, therebyi stopping the frame I011 in an intermediate position. In Fig. 172 the shaft"- the shaft30ithe frame 101 is stopped twice in in- I I termediate "position and. once in; the extreme,

right position. "The purpo sefof sostop'ping the frame 101 will now-be explained.

j. Itwillhbe observedthat on each of the four corners oftheframe I01](Figsl0band11) there is acam formationj having three level surfaces connected by inclined surfaces. Thus on each slidingbarflllfI and I010. ati the left endthere is a highcam surface 93 and .93a respectively, (Figs.

10 and.1 1). Likewise at the opposite end of each of these bars there is ahigh, cam surface 96 and 06a, respectively. Adjacent thesehigh cam surfaces'93, 93:1,"96 and 06a, respectively, are intermediate camsurfaces 94,1940, 91 and 91a, and next to the intermediate surfaces are low cam surfaceswhich are identical with. the surfaces of the frame I 01 and are indicated 98a, respectively. f v I As was previously mentionediwith reference to Fig. .22, the anvils 56and56a are rotatably supported upon trunnionsJIIJU and I00 ct.f The anvil 55a ;(Fig. 10) is provided with a pair of rollers.

we lmat s wares "m These:

treated, and

rollers H13 1 are positioned substantially directly; beneath the anvil surfaces at and b. and rest, on,

surfaces aand 0, respectively, for the box ends to rest on while nailing the firstside,as shown in Fig. 10. It will also be observed that the roller I4 is mounted on the anvil 56a and is moved into the slot iii (Figs. 7,.12 andZO) of the clamping head 53a under these conditions.

Immediately after the nails are driven in the first side (the position shown in Fig. 10) the box form is lifted off the anvils by the lugs 55 on the connecting rods 2! (Fig. 5) as the nail chuck ascends into its upper position, and immediately following the lifting of the box form the frame I6! is moved to its extreme left position, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, thereby bringing the low surfaces 95, a, 98 and 98a on the frame IOI below the rollers I03 and IEl'aa and permitting the anvils to rotate outwardly on their supporting trunnions so that. they lie clearof the box form to permit it to revolve; at the same time the outward movement of the anvil 56a carries the 1 roller l4 clear of the slot I6 in the clamping head 53a so as to permit the box form to be revolved by the spring 72' (Figs. 3 and 4'). To positively remove the roller I4 from the slot I6 an additional roller N35 is mounted on an extension arm H14 on anvil 56a, which is engaged by a cam 99 on the frame If)? when the latter moves intoextreme left position.

The timing of the shaft 30 is suchthat :immediately after the roller 14 is removed'from the slot I6, the roller III'a (Fig. 13)' releases the block 3811, thereby permitting the frame IG'I to be pulled to the right by the spring I 22 until the roller "I4 contacts with the concentric rim 53b of the clamping head 53a. The roller I4 thereafter rides on the rim 532), being held in engagement therewith by the tension of spring I22 acting through the frame I01 and the inclined cam surfaces interconnecting the surfaces 95a, 94a, 95 and 94, respectively, until the box form has revolved 90 degrees, at which time the roller I4 enters the slot 16a in slot 53a and the rollers we and Ill-"3a ride up onto the intermediate cam I surfaces 84, 94a, 91 and 91a, permitting the frame Iii! to be moved into intermediate position by the spring I22, in which position projection I98 rests against the cam surface IUSa (Figs. 13 and 15). This leaves the box ends and box form in position to receive the bottom boards for nailing and as the chuck frame I6 and driver frame I5 descend to drive the nails, the clamping heads will be lowered onto the anvil surfaces b and d by the lug 65 (Fig. 5) on the connecting rods 2 I. The clamping heads are so dimensioned that when they rest on the anvil surfaces b and d the upper edges of the box ends are at the proper elevation for nailing.

After the nails are driven in the bottom, the form rotating or indexing operation is repeated, the form being rotated 90 degrees into the position for nailing the last side and the anvils 56 of the box ends.

and 56a being left supported on the intermediate cam surfaces 94, 94a, 91. and 91a because of the fact that the projection 4538 on frame IIl'I is still brought to rest against the'cam surface IBSa by the spring I22, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. After the last side is nailed on, the indexing operation is then repeated revolving the box and form degrees and leaving it again in the first position, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, so that the box can be removed and the new ends and first side of another box can be placed in nailing position. 1

The objectof providing the intermediate cam surfaces 94, 94a, 9'! and 91a and the auxiliary box engaging anvil surfaces b and a. on anvils 56a and 56, respectively, is to provide a lower anvil for nailing the last side of the box than when nailing the first side of the box. This is necessary because the vertical dimension of the box when the lastside is being nailed is greater by the thickness of one side board than when the first side is being nailed, and if the same nailing plane isto be maintained in both operations the anvil must be lower while nailing the last side than while nailing the first side. It has also been found convenient to employ the anvil surfaces b and d, respectively, for supporting the clamping heads during the nailing of the bottom boards. However, this is not essential as the height of the upper edges of the box ends, whenin position for nailing the bottom boards, may be reg-.

ulated by varying. the distances between the clamping head surfaces which rest on the anvils and the surfaces which support the lower edges Boa: end clamping and releasing mechanism The clamping structure for actually engaging the box ends has been previously described with reference to Fig. 8 but the apparatus for actuatingthe clamps in proper timed sequence to the other operations of the machine was omitted. It will be apparent that the automatic clamping of the box ends must take place before the nails are driven in the first side and the box ends must beheld firmly thereafter during the subsequent indexing of the box form and nailing of the three sides of the box, after which the box must be released just as or after the box form comes to rest following its last movement of 180 der grees. The apparatus for performing these functions will now be described.

Rigidly secured to the rocker shaft I37 (Figs. 7 and 8) near the clamping head 53, is a radius arm I38 (Figs. 28, 29 and 30) having a square end I46 and a lateral arm 545. A rigid trigger I 49 is pivotally mounted by a pin 642 secured to the clamping head. Trigger I le; has two ratchet teeth M3 and Me and is held against radius arm I38 by a spiral spring I lI. As previously de scribed, a slight rocking of the shaft 53'! in a clockwise direction opens the box end clamps 59 and reverse movement in a counterclockwise direction closes the clamps 59. When the end Hit of the arm IE8 is held by the tooth I43 of the ratchet trigger I49, as in Fig. 29, the box ends are in clamped position and the springs I55 (Fig. 7) are slightly compressed to compensate for variation in the thickness of the box ends. When the ends Hit of the arm I38 is held by the ratchet tooth 244, as in Fig. 28, the box end clamps are open.

Shaft I3! (Fig. 7) has keyed thereto a radius arm I63, to the end of which there is attached a tension spring I64 which tends to rotate the ishaftl :31 in'isuch .positionas to hold the box end I 'shown in Fig. 8. to the position shown in Fig.9-

clamps 59 inopen position. Thereis also keyed to the shaft I3! a radiusarm I35, the outer end I850, of which is triangularinshape, as shown in Fig. 27o, adapted to engage with .aspherical roller I93 rotatably mounted on the outer end of aradius arm I29, which is keyed to theupper end of a vertical shaft M3, the latter being 'j0ur-.

nailed inbearings I and I340; supported from I the cross-tie lid on the frame of the machine. The radius arm IE9 is free to swing from an angle of about oll degreesfrom theposition lid? The leverllt is provided on itsfree end withan inclined surface IIZ positioned in the pathof the rollers Mia, lIIb and lo on the triangular disc i Mi. As previously described, the disc H8 rotates throughulw degrees during each nailing. operation, bringing one of the three rollers Iltla, Hither Iiiic into contact with the angled end H341. of the lover I I3, thereby swinging the lever to shift the arm I29. from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 9, and as the roller slips off the angled end H312; the lever i i It is returned to its original position by the ex-.

tension spring r32; thereby shifting the arm I29 back into the position shown in Fig. 8. When the arm Q29. swings from the position shownin Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig.9, the roller l3! contacts with the angled surface 135s of the arm l35'(Fig. 27a), thereby lifting thearm I95 and rotating the shaft I 3? in the'proper direction to clamp the box ends. This clamping action istimed. to take place just before the first side is nailed on and, as. the box form stops in this position only once during each revolution, the cam IZiEa is actuated by the roller I3i once during each revolution of theparts 53 and 53o.

It will be apparent'that whenever the shaftI 3I is rotated into clamping position, as outlined, by actuation of the lever I I3, it is retained in clamping position by the ratchet tooth I 43 (Fig. 29) which engages with the end MS. of the arm Therefore, following insertion of box ends the box form is about to stop for the last time to discharge the finished box, the endMB of the ratchet trigger M9 strikes the upperend I4! of a vertical rod .139, which is pivotally support-. ed at its lower end by a pin I58 to a bracket. I5I

mounted on the rear table tie 6d. An adjustable stop screw I 52 and a compression spring I53 normally hold the vertical rod I99 in proper position to engage the end M8 of the ratchet trigger i 49. The engagement of the upper end I M of the vertical rod I39 with the end I48 of the ratchet .trigger i449 lifts the tooth I43 of the ratchet trigger out of'contactwith the end I 46. or the arm I38;permitting the end M8 to strike the tooth I44. of the ratchet trigger I49. Si'mul-.

taneously',.;the. projection I45 of the arm I 38 strikes the side of the vertical'rod 'I39forcing its end I I'I out of contact with the end I48 of the ratchet trigger I49, as shown in. Fig. :28, leaving the ratchet lever to be pulled down by the spring I41. As before stated, the movement of the arm I38 fromthe tooth M3 to the tooth I44 releases the box end clamps 59 and 59a.

Shook stop gage To position the first and last sides. andbottom boards endwise so that their ends will be flush with the outsideof the box ends, a movable stop gage is provided. This step gage com.- prises a contact blade III (Fig. lZ) adapted to be positioned flush against the outer upper surface ofithe'left box end and project thereabove so that,,by placing the boards against the stop, the:

left end of the boards will be flushwiththe outer:-

surface of the box end.. Obvious1y,the.;stop

gagehas to be moved clear of the box form while the latter is revolvingso as toclear the corners of the box and the clamping head. The

gage is, therefore; elevated and withdrawnfto."

the left automatically preliminary to movement 'of the box' form. To this end, "the! stop gage:

proper I7! is weldedv toa lever I18 pivotally mounted by a pin I 19 to onevend of a lever I83,

a pin I84 to the left frame member- 2 of the ma. chine.. The upper end of the lever I18 is attached by a pin I89 to one end of an. extension spring I8I the other end of which is secured to a projection 208 on the lever I83. An'adiustable stop screw is threadedfintoprojection .the other end of which is pivotally mountedpby position- 1 40 Referring, now to Fig. 23, it will beobserved that the lever I83 really constitutes a. double.

frame of parallelogram outline. Nearothecenter 1 of the lever I83 there is attached a pin I86 upon whichis rotatably mounted one end of a connecting rod I8'I. The lower end of the :conmeeting. rod I8! is pivotally connected by a pin I88 (Fig.- 12) to a projection on a. radius arm I92 which is pivotally secured at its opposite end to the frame 2'by a pin 93. The radius arm I 92 is provided with a roller I9! on its free end, which rolls on the upper flat surface I98o, the inclined surface I98 and the lower flat surface I99 of a cam $98, which is a part of the ,frame I81. Itwill be apparent that when the frame I9? is in the extreme leftposition (which is the position it occupies while the box form is revolvingl that the stopgage will be in the elevated position shown in Fig. 12 so as to clear thebox form and the corners of the box, and that when the frame I8! is in either its intermediate operations) the stop gage In is moved into lowered position, as shown in Fig. 16, preparatory to the placing of the sides and bottoms of the box; An extensionspring I attached at one v Miscellaneous features or its right handposition (during the nailing .To position the sides of the boxso that they will lie flush with the top of the ends, the stop gagesZ IJZ (Fig. 16) are provided. These stop against the fingers llil.

gages are rigidly s'ec'ured'to the clamping heads and do not'interfere with the removal of the box. They are shown to better advantage in the end view of Fig. 2'7.

Since the sides of the boxes for which the present machine are designed each comprise a single board, only one pair of stop gages M22 is required for each side, although other yielding and adjustable stop gages could obviously be provided should it be desired to make a box having more than one board on each side. However, the bottom is designed to be made up of two boards, and it is therefore desirable to provide a special set of guides for properly aligning these bottom boards; As has been previously mentioned, the large casting 65 on the form, serves as a counterweight to balance the box form and also as a frame or support for the shock stop gages for positioning the bottom boards. Thus, referring to Figs. 18 and the counterweight N55 is provided with two channels in which runners 366 are slidably positioned. These. runners 1 I68 support fingers iii? against which the bottom boards are placed. The fingers I61- are provided with elongated slots H5 in which there are positioned screws for securing the fingers to the runners. The slide is provided for longitudinal adjustment of the fingers. The runners ltd are locked within the channels in the counterweight E65 by screws lid which extend through two rectan ular openings I89 in each runner, the rectangular openings being so located as to permit of horizontal and vertical movement of the runners. Each runner is normally held in left position with the ends of the openings i553 against the screws MS, as

- shown, by a tension spring lilo, which is secured at one end to a screw ll l attached to the casting I65 and at the other end to the runner by a pin H3. Compression springs ill are also provided mounted in holes in the casting and acting through plungers Hi2 to normally hold the runners in uppermost position against the screws H0.

The upper edges of the runners support the bottom boards as they are placed in position and to this end the runners are placed slightly above the normal heights of the box ends to facilitate rapid placing of the bottom boards in position Owing to the inaccuracy of the dimensions of the box ends employed, there is appreciable variation in the amount the fingers Hill extend above the box ends. When placing the bottom boards, the operator takes two boards in one hand and slides them along the runners 166, the fingers being slightly less in height than the thickness of one board, causes one board to be dep ted or stopped against the first pair of while permitting the second board to slide over the first board and the first pair or": fingers into postion against the second pair of fingers, as shown in Fig. 19. If

the bottom boards were to be placed directly on the box ends, considerable inconvenience would be experienced because of the variation in the distance the fingers would extend'above the box ends. However, with the runners mounted above the upper edges of the box edge as shown,

the aforementioned inconvenience, is avoided. When the bottom is nailed, the springs ltl yield to permit the runners to be depressed to the level of the box ends. When the last side has been nailed, there is usually a slight shifting of the box ends in the clamping heads and is to avoid damage to either the fingers N57 or the and 26.

bottom boards that the springs its are provided to permit end movement of the runners 16%.

In the shocks provided for making boxes in the machine described, the bottom boards are sometimes furnished already stitched or stapled together on cleats and sometimes they are furnished separated, and the cleats and two bottom pieces have to be placed in proper nailing position by the operator against stop gages in the nailing machine. Obviously, where the bottoms come already stitched or stapled together to cleats, they are simply placed on the form and nailed to the box ends. Under these conditions, of course, only one set of fingers I5! on the bottom guide runners E56 are employed.

When the bottom boards are supplied separately, they are positioned against the ends in the manner previously described and then the bottom cleats are attached by inserting them in special clamps on the nailing chucks so that they are properly aligned and nailed in place when the chucks and drivers are lowered. The mode of clamping the bottom cleats to the lower ends of the nail chucks preparatory to nailing the bottom of a box is illustrated in Figs. 24, 25 It will be observed that two outside dogs 2M are hingedly secured to the chuck bodies M5 by hinge pins 2% and are normally urged to the left (with reference to Fig. 24) by springs 2H mounted between the heads of bolts 299 passing through clearance holes in the dogs 2% and screwed into the chuck bodies M5. Set screws 2&2 are provided in the lower ends of the dogs so as to position the faces 28% fiush with the ends or" the bottom boards, as shown in Fig. 25. 'hese two dogs 2% are attached to chucks which are located each near the end of the row of chucks on each end of the machine. Cooperating with the two outside dogs is an inside dog 298, which is pivotally secured by a pin 2% to a clamp 2M, which is in turn secured to the chuck body 2E5 by a screw M3. The dog 298 is forced outward against a cleat 2B3 by a torque spring 269 and when no cleat is in position the dog 2&8 stops against the adjustable set screw 20? which is threaded in the clamp 2M. The lower end of the dog 2% is so shaped and the dog is hung at such an angle that when the first and last sides are nailed the dog is lifted and no conflict is experienced, and at the same time the operator can quickly and easily insert a cleat between the dogs by a slight upward pressure.

The machine as described is designed particularly for the assembling of apple boxes, which have heads 10% x 11 51' -}-2;-" thick; sides 10 x 19 x thick; two bottom boards, each 5 x 19%" x A" thick with a cleat at each end x 1%" x 11 The two bottom boards are spaced about apart. The machine can also be adapted-for making pear boxes, which are of the same dimensions as apple boxes except that the heads are 8 x 11 making the box 2" shallower. Thisv adaptation is made by inserting 2" filler strips 54 (Figs. 31 and 32) in the clamping heads to bring the box heads to the proper nailing elevation when in position to receive the bottom boards.

Operation 

